On September 29th and 30th, 2018, Assistant Professor Ikuko Sasaba, of the School of Human Welfare Studies, participated in the Athlete Career Advisor Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Program as a lecturer, and held lectures and workshops. This program is being implemented as part of the Japan Sports Agency’s strategic sports career support project.

Visualizing athletes as having ’dual careers’ goes one step beyond the idea of athletes having ‘second careers’ after retirement. This perspective perceives athletes’ careers as one important aspect of their entire lives, and by aiming to create harmony between their athletic pursuits and their academic studies, jobs, and private lives starting from the time that athletes are active, it assists athletes in attaining self-fulfillment and achieving their goals across their whole lives.

Prof. Sasaba has been conducting research on this theme using psychology techniques. On the days of the program, she conducted a lecture and workshop series on examples of dual career education in the USA and the importance of mental training and career support for athletes. The 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are imminent, and this is a necessary mindset in order for athletes to feel at ease and devote themselves to competition.